The Welsh Government has commissioned Miller Research to undertake an evaluation of the pan-Wales Homelessness Advice Service. This aim of this research is to evaluate the current implementation and impact of the service, as funded via the Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG), to better understand its current operation and efficacy.
As an outcome of the independent evaluation, the project will produce robust and credible evidence to inform future funding and policy decisions within the Welsh Government. Specifically, the research will
• explore the effectiveness of the Homelessness Advice Service across Wales in delivering against its original aims, as intended and required;
• consider the metrics against which service outputs are currently measured;
• explore the ways in which the service can and does contribute to the Welsh Government’s strategic homelessness; and,
• offer recommendations for a future version of the Service.
As part of this evaluation, Miller Research will be gathering information through an online survey of service-users.
The Welsh Government is the data controller for the research. However, Miller Research will delete any personal data provided through the survey and interviews, and anonymise the raw data, before it is shared with the Welsh Government.
The information collected during the project will be included in a report published on the Welsh Government website.
Your participation in this research is completely voluntary. However, your views and experiences are important in order to help inform Welsh Government policies.
The contact for this research at Miller Research is Jessica Mann.
E-mail address: jessica@miller-research.co.uk
Telephone number: 01873 851880
PRIVACY NOTICE
What personal data do we hold and where do we get this information?
Personal data is defined under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) as ‘any information relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified by reference to an identifier’.
Miller Research do not hold your contact details. You have received a link to participate in the online survey via Shelter Cymru, who hold your details under the terms of your pre-existing agreement to support research and evaluation activities. Only Miller Research will be able to access your survey responses.
You are not required to provide any personal data as part of the survey and neither your IP address nor your email address are captured automatically. Your survey responses are therefore anonymous.
Your participation is voluntary and if you do not wish to take part or be sent reminders then please reply to the invitation email or let us know using the telephone number provided and your details will be removed.
If you raise a query or complaint and provide personal data requesting a response, the researcher will forward the request only to the relevant official and subsequently delete it from the research data.
What is the lawful basis for using your data?
The lawful basis for processing information in this data collection exercise is our public task; that is, exercising our official authority to undertake the core role and functions of the Welsh Government.
Participation is completely voluntary. Research studies such as this are important for the Welsh Government to collect information and actionable evidence about its ability to deliver government priorities. The information collected in this research, for example, might be used to:
• Improve the advice services offered to people who have, are, or are at risk of experiencing homelessness in Wales.
• Identify and address any barriers to people accessing homelessness advice services in Wales, particularly those with protected characteristics.
• Ensure that homelessness advice services in Wales are funded efficiently.
How secure is your personal data?
Personal information provided to Miller Research is always stored on a secure server. The data can only be accessed by a limited number of researchers working on this project. Miller Research will only use this data for research purposes. Miller Research has cyber essentials certification.
When conducting surveys, Miller Research use a survey software programme called SmartSurvey. We have ensured that SmartSurvey is UK GDPR compliant and meets our expectations in terms of the security of any data collected via the software.
Miller Research has procedures to deal with any suspected data security breaches. If a suspected breach occurs, Miller Research will report this to the Welsh Government who will notify you and any applicable regulator where we are legally required to do so.
Miller Research will use the information gathered to produce a report that will be published on the Welsh Government website. This report will not include any information that could be used to identify individual participants.
How long do we keep your personal data?
Miller Research will not hold personal data during the contract period unless you provide in any open text responses. Anything that is provided will be deleted by Miller Research within three months of the end of the contract.
Miller Research will provide Welsh Government with an anonymised version of the survey data which will not include information that could identify you.
Individual rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to the personal information you provide as part of this evaluation specifically you have the right:
• To access a copy of your own data;
• For us to rectify inaccuracies in that data;
• To object to or restrict processing (in certain circumstances);
• For your data to be ‘erased’ (in certain circumstances); and
• To lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) who is our independent regulator for data protection.
The contact details for the Information Commissioner’s Office are:
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire,
SK9 5AF.
Phone: 0303 123 1113.
Website: www.ico.gov.uk
Further Information
If you have any further questions about how the data provided as part of this study will be used by the Welsh Government or wish to exercise your rights using the UK General Data Protection Regulation, please contact:
Name: Ieuan Davies
E-mail address: ieuan.davies007@gov.wales
Telephone number: 0300 025 0511
The Welsh Government’s Data Protection Officer can be contacted at:
Welsh Government,
Cathays Park,
Cardiff,
CF10 3NQ.
Email: DataProtectionOfficer@gov.wales